“Optimism Abounds as Burkina Faso Votes for President”

November 29, 2015

Voters wait in line at a polling place in the capital, Ouagadougou (New York Times)

Today, elections for the presidency and the national assembly took place in Burkina Faso. The country has faced significant political turmoil in the last year having faced two coups in October 2014 and September 2015. The second coup d’etat which ultimately failed, was lead by Gilbert Diendéré, the leader of the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) under the ousted president Blaise Compaore in the 2014 coup, and was a revolt against the interim government for not allowing members of Compaore’s political party to run for president.

The two front runners are Robert Marc Kabore, a former prime minister of Burkina Faso, and Zéphirin Diabré, who previously worked for the United Nations Development Program. Election results are expected within the next few days as officials count the paper voting ballots. If no candidate recieves an absolute majority, or 50% of the total vote, a second round of voting will take place.

Interim President Michel Kafando places his vote for the presidency (Telegraph.co.uk)

As the current interim president, Michel Kafando, cast his ballot for the presidency, he told onlookers to “choose and decide now, and your choices will initiate an era of freedom, democracy and understanding in Burkina.”